Receptacle filler



March l0, 1953 Filed Oct. 21, 1947 LIPPOLD 2,630,960

RECEPTACLE FILLER 4 Sheets-Shea?I l l# El B SNN March 10, 1953 A. J. LIPPOLD 2,630,960

RECEPTACLE FILLER Filed Oct. 21, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March l0, 1953 A. J. LlPP'oLD RECEPTACLE FILLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 21, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

March I0, 1953 v v A. J. LIPPOLD RECEPTACLE FILLER Filed 001'.. 21, 194'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN1/Emol@ @gdm/Ok zio/odd Patented Mar. 10, 1953 Adolph J.- Lippod, lvulwaukeel,` Wiseassignorto Cherryurrell'! Corporation, Chicago, Ill'., a cor-- poration Application october 21, 1947, Serial No., 781,191,

2' Claims;

Y This invention relates to improvements'ina device for filling receptacles with liquid, such, for example, as a device for filling milk into milk bottles or containers.

It is the object of this. invention, among other things,A to provide an improved type of container filling machine andV valve therefore, aswell' as an improved support for such a valve.

In receptacle fillers of the type commonly re-v ferred to as vacuum type receptacle fillers; the valve rnec'l'ianis'm,l through which liquid is discharged fromy a reservoir or-tank for liquid into a-V container, is frequently positioned beneath the liquid. reservoir and the liquid flows into the receptacle after the air normally present in the receptacle hasbeen partially eXhaustedor-is-being partially exhausted therefrom. Such valve meclianisms are sometimes provided with avent tube. Normalyi Such a. vent tube, extends f-roma point above the level of the liquidL inthe liquid supply-- reservoir, from which reservoirthe air is constantly being exhausted; down through a supply ofv liquid and through the valve mechanism orv filler head to a point beneath the valve mechanism. The-lower end ofthe vent tube extending beneath the valve mechanism may communicate with the interior of ajreceptacle; to be filled-whenplaced in lling position orto communicate with; the atmosphere when noV receptacle i'sfillingl position beneath the fillingY head'.

During the normal operation of theimproved receptacle filler; the vent tube of the' improved valve serves as a means for partially exhausting( airy or other gases from the receptacles`- Orcontainers to be filled. andwhen-nece'ssary also serves to Withdraw excess liquid from the filled container atv the completion; of theiilling operationafter the; seal between the container andthe-fill* inghead has'been broken.

In some of the more conventional types ofl valves usedon vacuum typeA receptacle-fillers,A the Vent tube isA open constantly,` thereby permitting-- the entry ofV an excess quantity of' air into-thepartiallyexhausted reservoirV during such periods when there are no containerstin' rilling-A position at the llingheads: 'Iheentryr of such excess quantities of airin many instances-overloads-- the means for producing and` maintaining the subatmosphericpressureV condition the` spa-ceabove the liquidi in the liquidsupply-reservoir: It has also been found that at the time thatA the seal between the filling head and theY filled-- receptacle is broken, there is a tendency'vforsome of` the liquidnormallydrawn into the vent-tube from the filledn receptacle to: drop again from the vent tube into` mennedrecepta-cle, thereby-over ze filling the receptacle orto drip onto portions, of the lling mechanism when the ll'ed receptacle is removed. Obviously, such a condition greatly detracts fromV the degreejof exactness to which the receptacles may be filled to predetermined levels, and also contributes greatly to unsanitary conditionsoff the machine.

The primary object of this' invention is, therefore; toprovide an improved' container ller of the vacuum filler type, ad'nitnll to' use an improved; filling head` forfilling';v containers; in which thelling head isl providedwith a vent tube and seal; therefore, and wherein the seal is operable responsivetoy the opening and closing-'movements of the liquid; valve or the filling head; in which the' filling head is supported on the liquid: reservoir of' the-4 filler by an improvedvalve support; andinA which the vent tube* and seal therefore are so constructed and arranged and operate insuch a fashion as to enable thev desired degree of control off the movement or flow or air or liquidthrough the vent tube. v

The foregoing and otherobjects of this invention will be more apparent and will be moreA readily understood`V when read in connection with the drawings illustra-ting the preferred embodiments or the present invention', which, without desire of limitation, will be described and' illus"-A trated as an' improved type of' milk bottl'etiller and partsv therefore, in which Figure 1 is' an elevational' View, partiallyin lfirokernawayV section, o'f the reservoirfor liquid'- ofthe improvedller equipped1 with thefimproved type of filling heads.

Figure 2 is an elevational View, partially in section; off' one off the preferred embodiments ofthe improved valve, mounted` in operative posi-` t-ionA in the lower wal-l of the liquidv reservoir of the iiller.

Figure is aperspective view'- of an improved-v type of iilling head shown` in Figure 2v4 ofi the drawings.

Figures G and' 7 ari-ielevationalt views, partially inA section, of: modie'd forms of the. improved. filling head mounted inoperative: position intthe;

lower'walliot the liquidf reservoir of theziiller.`

Fie-ure Slis: anelevational viewfofthev modified vent tube seal.' actuatorVv for the-modified; valves;

offthe-typeshown in Figures Gland-.7 otl'iedraw. ings.-

Figure 9" isaplan View of the` venttube seal actuator-showin in Figure-810i theV drawings.

Figure 1U:isf--an-elevationalview of the` modifiedacsdeeo vent tube seal actuator for the modification of the lling heads shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the vent tube seal actuator shown in Figure 10 of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like elements, I represents a rotatable support for a rotatable supply reservoir 2 for milk or other liquids to be filled into containers. Reservoir 2 is provided with a lidv or cover 3, resting on the gasket il placed about the mouth of the reservoir or tank 2,

Cil

whereby to seal the cover 3 to the tank 2. 4The cover Sis provided centrally Athereof and in align*- Nmen't with the rotatable support I with a combined rotary fluid coupling 5, provided with an axial inlet or supply conduit 6 for the milk or "other liquids to be supplied` to the reservoir 2, and a peripheral discharge or evacuation conduit 7 for connection to a source of vacuum. The milk or other liquid supplied from a suitable source of supply (not shown) through conduit 6 enters the tank 2 through the float valve 3, whereby a predetermined level of the body of liquid in the reservoir 2 may be maintained. By means of connections to a suitable source for the development and maintenance of a desired degree of vacuum (not shown) a predetermined pressure condition, such as sub-atmospheric, may be produced and maintained in the reservoir 2 above the level of the liquid therein.

As clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the tank 2 is preferably provided with a plurality of filling nozzles or heads 9, communicating through ports in the lower wall of the reservoir with the interior portion thereof containing the liquid to be filled into the containers. Upon an inspection of the broken-away portion of Figure 1 of the drawings, it is also apparent that each filling head or valve 9 is provided with a vent tube or pipe IB, the upper end of which extends above the level of the liquid in the reservoir 2, thereby permitting the venting or partial evac- 'uating of air or other` substance from the containers being filled through the filling heads 9 into the vacuumized space above the liquid in the reservoir 2.

In the figures of the drawings, there are illustrated several embodiments of ller heads embodying unique improvements, as well as several mechanical variations thereof, for the construction of certain portions of the improved type of filler heads.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated an improved bellows type of filling head, having a'tubular vent stem I0 extending through an aperture in the lower wall of the reservoir 2, which aperture is defined by the downwardly turned flange II formed in the lower wall of the tank 2. The vent tube I is preferably arranged vertically and centrally in the associated aperture and extends from a point below the lower wall of the tank 2 through the associated aperture through the body of liquid in the tank and into the space above the body of liquid. That space is preferably maintained under a condition of subatmospheric pressure.

To secure the vent tube I0 in position, there is provided a vent tube support spider or bracket I2, having a sleeve bearing contact with the collar I4. The collar I4 is welded to or otherwise securely fixed to the outer surface of the vent tube IG or formed integrally with the vent tube I0. Flange I5 at the lower end of the collar I4 abuttingly engages I3, telescoped over and in the adjacent edges of the sleeve I3. Removable clip pin I6 engaged in groove I'I in the outer periphery of the collar I4 overlaps and abuts against the upper end of the sleeve I3, thereby locking the vent tube ID in position with respect to the sleeve I3 of the support spider I2.

Sleeve I3 of the venttube support. spider or bracket I2,r as illustrated in Figuresz and 3 of the drawings, is maintained in fixed position with respect to the aperture in the lower wall of the tank 2 by radially extending spacing arms "I9,

4preferably formed integrally with the sleeve I3 on the outer surface thereof and preferably spaced at angles of degrees about the outer periphery of the sleeve I3. Each of the arms I8 is of the same radial depth which is also suincient to enable the engagement of each of the arms I8 with the adjacent portion of the edge of the downwardly turned flange II, thereby establishing axial alignment of the spider I2 and the port defined by the circular and downwardly turned flange Il. To prevent axial motion of the spider I2, each of the arms I8 is provided adjacent its upper extremity Awith a radially and outwardly extending finger I9, of sujicient length to extend beyond the flange II and overlap and engage the adjacent portion of the inner surface of the wall of the tank 2 around the flange Ii. Three of the arms I8 are provided adjacent their lower extremities with radially and outwardly extending fingers 20 of sufficient length to abuttingly overlap and engage the adjacent edge of the flange II. Flange Ii is provided with an inner peripheral notch or slot 2I of a sufficient size to permit the movement individually of the lingers 2D therethrough.

In the assembly of the spider I2 in the aperture defined by the flange Il, the spider I2 is inserted into theaperture slightly off center with respect thereto, with one of the fingers 20 aligned with the notch 2I. The spider I2 is then moved into axial alignment in the aperture defined by the flange II, s0 that the remaining two of the fingers 20 are placed in overlapping, abutting engagement with and overlapped by the edge of the flange II, and the third finger 20 is then moved downwardly through the slot 2i, whereupon the spider I2 is then rotated so as to lock the spider I2 tothe flange II.

The vent tube I0 is provided at its lower'extremity with an apertured valve element or member 22, which is fixed to theend of the tube I0 in such a fashion that the aperture thereof communicates with the passage of the tubular vent stem It).v Valve 22 is provided with an upper conical surface for engagement with a valve seat 23 at the lower end of the liquid vdischarge tube 24,'superimposed over the vent stem I0. The tube 24 is arranged for axial, reciprocal motion with respect to the valve plug 22, thereby permitting the movement of the valve seat 23 away from the valve plug 22, or to urge seat 23 against the adjacent surface of the valve plug 22. A slightly compressed, resilient and flexible, tubular bellows-shaped element 25 is disposed intermediate the upper end of dispensing tube 24 and the lower surface of the adjacent portion of. the wall of the tank 2. Bellows 25 is so arranged as to be in sealing contact at its lower end with the upper portion of the discharge tube 24, and in sealing contact at its upper end with the adjacent lower surface of the flange II and the tank 2. The bellows 25 is arranged axially with respect to the vent tube I0 and the aperturev defined by the flange II. A slight compression of the belvlows 25 is. secured by the selection. of the apprm 'priate axial lengths. of the bellows 25. and asso.,- ciated discharge tube 24. The Alength of the bellows 25 must be slightly in excess of the space between the valve 22 and the lower surface of the tank 2.

The seai of the bellows 25 against the tank 2 and the flange I I. results from the axial compression of the bellows 25. The seal. of the bellows 25 to the upper end of the dispensing tube 24 resuits in part from the axial compression of the bellows 25 and also results in part from the rotary compression of the lower lip orv bead 2.6 of the bellows 25 against the groovediiange 2'I positioned at the upper end of the discharge tube 24, over which flange 2T the bead 23 has been stretched and as thus tensioned nests in groove 28. By virtue of the simultaneous application of compressive and tensioning force to certain portions of the bellows 25, the general dimensions of which are illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, a reasonable degree of distortion. resulting from axial compression of the bellows 25'v is possible without collapsing the bellows.

As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the liquid discharge tube 24 is provided with a container engaging and seal element 29. The element 25 is preferably ofV the type illustrated in Patent No. 2,171,752, and is also providedv with a radially extending condensate deector 30, overhanging the container seal element 23.

To assure the maintenance. of axial alignment during the opening and closing of the liquid discharge tube 24, incidental to the axial reciprocation of the tube 2.4 with respect to the valve plug 22, guide studs 31I vare xed to the upper end of the tube 24 and extend through the bellows 25 through the associated aperture in the lower wall of the tank 2 and into vclosely spaced relation with respect to the outer surface of the sleeve I3 of the spider I2. Preferably, four of such guide studs 3l are provided and when the valve is assembled in operative position the guide studs 3I are placed intermediate the radially extending arms I8v of the vent tube support spider I2.

Due to the positioning ofthe studs 3I close to the sleeve I3, any slight motion of the discharge tube 24, which is not in axial alignment with the vent tube I0 upon which the valve plug 22 is supported, will cause the engagement ofone or more of the'guide studs 3I with the sleeve- I3 to thereby prevent any undue misaligning motion of the liquid discharge tube 24 with respect to the vent tube I0 and` the valve 22.

The upper end of the vent tube I0, which extends above the level of the body of liquid in the reservoir 2, is provided with a vent cap 32, made preferably of resilient material, such, for example, as rubber. The cap 32 is of such a configuration as to make it readily align itself into proper sealing and seating position on the top of the vent tube I0 and to makeY it readily attachable to a motion transmitter or vent tube actuator 33. The vent tube actuator 33, illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, is formed preferably of a relatively heavy strip of material bent into what may generally be referred to as an S-shape with apertures 34 in the lower and middle horizontal elements of the S-shaped actuator 33. As thus constructed, the lower and middle portions of the actuator 33 may be telescoped over the vent tube III by the extension of the upper portion. of the vent tube I0` through the openings 34. 'I'he upper horizontal portion ofthe S-shaped vent tube actuator 33, as illusliquid in the reservoir 2.

trated in Figure 2 ofthe drawings, is provided preferably with a small opening for receiving a tab, formed on the top of the vent tube seal 32, whereby the vent tube seal is removably secured to but well supported on the vent tube actuator 3'3. When the vent tube cap or seal actuator is assembled in the manner .described on the vent tube IQ, with the closure`32 in sealing position on the .ventV tube IU, the lower horizontalarm 35 is spaced slightly from the upper extremity of the guidestuds 3l'. Upon the upward opening movement of the liquid discharge tube 24 of the nlling head 9, the guidev studs 3I will be moved upwardly into engagement with the lower horizontal arm 35 of the vent tube cap actuator 33, and upon the continued upward opening movement of the discharge tube 24, the vent tube cap actuator 33 will be raised upwardly a sufcient distance to remove the vent tube closure or seal 32. from the upper end of the vent tube. Such movement of the seal 32 establishes through the vent tubes I0 communication between the partially exhausted upper portion of the tank 2 and the space beyond the valve plug 32.

As a result of this arrangement, it immediately becomes obvious that when a container is placed in lling position below the filling head 9 and is urged against the bottle seal 29 with sufficient force to move the liquid discharge tube 24 upwardly, thereby opening the discharge tube, and thereby also opening the upper end of the vent tube by the removal of the seal 32, air entrapped in the container will be permitted to escape through the vent tube into the partially evacuated upper portion of the tank 2, and liquid will be permitted to ow from the tank 2 through the discharge tube 24 into the container. When the container has been iilled, and the container is lowered away from the filling head, the compressed bellows 25 will again lower the discharge tube 24, urging the valve seat 23 into engagement with the valve plug 22, to thereby discontinue the flow of liquid from the tank 2 through the discharge tube 24. Upon a continued lowering of the filled container, the pressure of the container against the bottle gasket 29 will be sufficiently released to enable the breaking of the seal between the interior of the bottle and the lling head, as a result of the re-expansion of the depressed ribs` on the lling head 9, to permit the entry of atmospheric air ork other suitable gas into the mouth of the lled bottle or container throughbetween the container and the container seal 29.

Obviously, during the operation of lling the containers, a certain quantity of liquid may enter the vent tubes Il) when the containers have been lled` and may then rise to a level in the vent tube IU comparable to the level of the body of The liquid which has thus entered the vent tube Ill is retained therein when the lled container is removed from vthe filling head il by virtue of the fact that the top of the vent tube I IJ is sealed by the cap 32 at approximately the saine time that the liquid discharge tube 24 is sealed by the valve 22. The sub-atmospheric pressure condition existing intermediate the column of liquid in the vent tube I and the vent tube closure cap 32 is such as to prevent theiow of liquid out oi the lower end of the vent tube Ill when the lled container is removed therefrom.,

In Figure 4 of the drawings there is illustrated a modied form of vent tube actuatorin which theA relatively heavy S-shaped actuator 33 is replaced by a relatively heavy tubular element 36, telescoped over a portion oiv the vent tube lil. The element 36 is provided at its upper end with an apertured, curved linger 3l for the support of the vent tube cap 32, all of which is accomplished in a manner comparable to that hereinbefore described with respect to the vent tube actuator 33. The tube 36 is provided at its lower extremity with a plate 38 ior engagement by the guide studs 3l.

A further modification of the vent tube actuator, for use on the type of bottle filling valve or lling head illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, is shown in Figure of the drawings. In this further modication there is provided a relatively heavy bar 39, spaced parallel to the Vent tube i6, and having laterally extending preferably circular apertured arms 40. The apertures of the arms are telescoped over the vent tube i6, with the lower arm 46 spaced slightly away from the upper extremity of the guide studs 3l. At the upper extremity of the bar element 3S there is provided a laterally extending bracket 4i, to which the vent tube cap 32 is secured, in a manner comparable to that heretofore described with respect to the attachment of the vent tube cap 32 to the vent tube actuator 33.

More conventional forms of iilling heads are illustrated in Figures 6 and 'i of the drawings.

As illustrated in both of these Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the portions of the filling head which extend downwardly from the filling reservoir 2 consist in each instance of a sectional, liquid discharge tube, comprised of the lower outer section 42 telescoped over the upper section 43. The upper end 43 of the upper one of the sectional discharge tubes for the filling heads, shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, are in each instance secured in a conventional manner to the liange Il, defining an aperture in the lower wall of the reservoir 2. An enlarged flange at the upper end of the tubular section 43 overlaps the inner face of the flange H in the lower wall of the tank 2. A coupling nut is threaded to an enlarged portion of the outer surface of the section 43 immediately adjacent the nange il, thereby clamping the section 43 to the lower wall or the tank 2. Conventional type of support arms extend from the upper end of the section 43 into the interior of the tank 2 for the rigid support of the sleeve i3. A vent tube Hl is secured into the sleeve i3 in the manner as hereinbefore set forth in the description of the support arrangement for the vent tube i for the modified type of iilling head, illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. To seal the liquid passage of the filling head the lower end of the vent tube i6, which extends through sections 42 and 43 of the telescoped discharge tube, is provided with a vaive plug 22 to engage a valve seat 23, formed in the lower extremity ci the section 42 of the liquid discharge tube. A compressed spring 44 is telescoped over the tubular sections of the dispensing tubes 42 and 43 intermediate a ange on the outer surface of the section 42, and the flange at the upper portion of the section 43, for urging the outer telescoped section 42 downwardly, thereby to engage the valve seat 23 with the valve 22.

In the modiiication of the illing head illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, there is provided a vent tube seal actuator 45, having a base portion 46, seated in a constricted throat in the inner face of section 42 of the tubular liquid discharge passage, and a vertical riser 4l, which extends upwardly from the base 46, substantially parallel to the vent tube I0. At the upper end of the vent tube I0, there is provided a spring clip 48, having a lower leg 49, consisting of two branches and provided with aligned apertures, which apertures may be telescoped over the ventY tube I0 when the branches are slightly compressed, thereby providing a suitable clamping arrangement, whereby the leg 49 may be securely mounted in place on the vent tube I6. Spring clip 48 is also provided with an apertured flexible upper leg 50, in which aperture the tab of the vent tube closure cap 32 is secured. The flexible spring arm 50 is adapted to move the vent tube cap 32 into sealing position upon the end of the vent tube l0. IThe movement of the flexible spring arm 50, whereby the end of the vent tube i0 is sealed and unsealed, results in response to the upward and downward movement respectively of the vent cap actuator 45, which movements, in turn, result from the upward and downward movements, respectively, of the section 42 of the liquid discharge tube of the filling head shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

The liquid discharge tube 42 is moved upwardly and downwardly in the opening and closing operations of the filling head illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, The motion of the vent cap actuator 45 is transmitted to the iiexible spring arm 56 by the abutment of the upper end of the vertical riser portion 4l of the actuator 45 against the lower face of the spring arm 56. The riserk 41 extends through a suitable guide opening in the lower arm 49 of the spring clip 4B and is thus guided in its upward and downward motion.

In Figure 7 of the drawings, the vent cap 32 at the upper end of the vent tube l0 is actuated upwardly by means of the vent cap actuator 45 coacting rwith a slightly modified form of weighted vent cap holder 33 of the type illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings, the vent cap actuator 33 is used primarily to cause the proper lowering of the vent cap 32, while the actuator 45 is used for the prompt raising of the vent cap 32, when the tubular section 42 of the liquid discharge passage is moved away from the valve 22. y

In Figure 8 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified arrangement of parts for` the actuation of the Vent cap 32. In Figure 8 of the drawings, the vent cap actuator 45 is operatively connected to a relatively heavy vent cap .holder 5I, which is telescoped over the upper end of the vent tube I0, and is provided with an apertured lug-like upper portion 52 for receiving thevent cap 32. An apertured, laterally extending boss 53 provides the means for connecting the vent stem actuator 45 to the vent cap holder 5I.

. A slightly modified vent cap holder 54 is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings. Similar to the vent cap holder 5i, the holder 54 is of a relatively heavy construction and is telescoped over the upper end of the vent tube l0 and is provided at its upper portion with an inwardly extending apertured arm 55 for supporting the vent cap 32. The vent cap actuator 45 for use in connection with the modified vent cap holder 54, illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, is provided with a hook-like portion at its upper extremity for telescoping over the outer surface of the vent cap holder 54 to engage the lower surface of the flange 51. Upon the upward motion of the vent cap actuator 45, the vent cap holder 54 and the vent cap 32 are moved upwardly to unseal or open the upper end of the vent tube l0. Upon a lowering of the vent tube actuator 45, the vent cap holder 54 will automatically, due to its own weight, descend with the vent cap actuator 45, thereby replacing the vent cap 32 on the upper end of the vent tube I0. The operation of the vent cap holder l, illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, is comparable.

In the foregoing description there have been set forth several modifications of an improved filling head which may be used to particular advantage in the lling of containers from a reservoir, in which a condition of sub-atmospheric pressure is maintained above the body of the liquid therein.

The applicants invention provides an inexpensive arrangement of parts, whereby to accomplish the accurate lling of a container from a partially evacuated liquid reservoir, and whereby the liquid, which may from time to time find its way into the air vent tube during the filling operations, is prevented from draining from the vent tube into a filled container, or from draining from the vent tube onto the filling mechanism.

Having thus described and illustrated the pre` ferred embodiments of this invention in an iinproved container lling apparatus and improved filling heads therefore, the invention is not to be restricted to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof, as set forth in the drawings, and as heretofore described, except insofar as may be made necessary by the prior art disclosure and the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A valve mechanism for controlling the iiow of liquid from a -ported supply tank into a receptacle comprising, in combination, a liquid supply tube having an upper and a lower end, means for establishing communication between said liquid supply tube and the interior of said supply tank, a receptacle sealing member carried by said supply tube, a valve seat in the lower end of said supply tube, a vent tube disposed substantially axially within said supply tube and having the upper end thereof extend above the level of the liquid within said supply tank, an apertured valve carried by the lower end of said vent tube for valving coaction with said valve seat and having the aperture thereof communicating with said vent tube, a vent tube seal for sealing the upper end of said vent tube, vent tube seal actuating means responsive to the movement of said supply tube when said valve seat is moved away fr-om said valve removing thereby said vent tube seal from said vent tube, said vent tube seal actuating means comprising a relatively heavy vent tube seal release element slidably mounted on said vent tube and normally supported by said vent tube seal, and stud mean-s secured to said supply tube and extending upwardly into said supply tank into close proximity and in alignment with said vent tube seal release element for the transfer of motion from said supply tube to said vent tube seal release element when said supply tube is moved upwardly.

2. In a support for supporting stem means in an aperture in a wall, a stem extending through the aperture in the wall, ya peripheral flange on said stem, a bearing element encompassing said stem in bearing contact therewith and having one end thereof abutting said flange, detent means secured to said stem and abutting the other end of said bearing element, relatively short finger means on the outer periphery of said bearing element extending radially therefrom to engage yone side of said Wall, relatively' longer finger means corresponding to said relatively short finger means and spaced therefrom to engage the opposite side of said Wall, .and a slot in said Wall at the edge of said aperture whereby at least one of the relatively short finger means may be passed through said slot when assembling said support on said Wall.

ADOLPH J. LIPPOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,550,726 Larsen Aug; 25, 1925 2,096,499 Mandell Oct. 19, 1937 2,171,757 Lippold Sept. 5, 1939 2,197,588 Namur Apr. 16, 1940 2,243,463 Kerr May 27, 1941 2,353,277 Stewart July 11, 1944 2,363,543 Miller Nov. 28, 1944 2,396,603 Powley Mar. 12, 1946 2,499,149 Lippold Feb. 28, 1950 2,518,349 McCabe Aug. 8, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Y,

540,950 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1941 Y 

